PINK AND BLUE SPITFIRES AT ROLLS-ROYCE HUCKNALL_2000

Two former 16 Squadron Spitfires - Mk XI PL965 (PINK) and Mk XIX PS853 (BLUE) are seen at 16 Squadron (Wartime) Reunion at Rolls-Royce Hucknall. Sqn Ldr Norman Godfrey DFC, CdeG flew both these aircraft in 1945 and he is seen second from the left in the scene showing 16 Squadron pilots.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• airplane

[rgnvideo]

16 Sqn operated both BLUE and PINK Spitfires in 1944. The blue Spits were Mk XI's and the pink Spits were MK IX's. The BLUE Spits were used for high level sorties while the PINK Spits were used for low level "dicer" sorties when the cloud level was low. The PINK camouflage was a definite advantage. 16 Sqn had no more than six pink Spitfire Mk IX's on strength at any one time. The first PINK Spits joined 16 Sqn in June 44 and the last ones left in Oct 44, except for ML 206.

rgnvideo

[Irvine5312x6ma]

What a sight, what a sound...

What a MASTERPIECE... sadly R.Mitchell didn't live to see his stunning creation's progressive evolution and development. How pleased it would have made him feel...

[bhm1712]

4 mins 29 to 4 mins 45 .....the sound......cant beat it, there never will be an engine made which sounds better

[DaveP72006]

@bhm1712 its being rebuilt at the moment and making steady progress,i saw it in May,the rebuild on the Rolls Royce MK 14 has stopped for the time being

[thenicedudejay]

what a wonderful looking plane & what a wonderful sounding RR engine. my hat off to both Mr Mitchell & Mr Royce !

[foxone1974]

i live 30 seconds away from here,i can open my bed room window and listern to this allday,i live in the old RAF houses.i remember RR testing bed,and the noise from the jet engine tests at weekends.many childhood memorys....:-)

thanks for uploading this.

[bhm1712]

@EPICCLES Same here, I live about half a mile away

[EPICCLES]

Cool! I live here and go every year! Last year there was a mustang as well!

[bhm1712]

such a shame that PS853 (mk19 blue) is now grounded due to corrosion in the wing spars. Rolls Royce heritage say they may not have the funds to correct the issues and its future is uncertain. Lets hope the board members decide it is better to spend the money to get her back in the air...

[nanchuanwushu1]

Those two engines, the Merlin and the Griffon...... I could listen their sounds all day...... Their sound is more than just a beautiful sound. The Merlin or the Griffon engine alone in the air is a music to hear. Merlin AND Griffon together in the air are composing an orchestra.

One of the best video ever. Thanks for posting.

John